News: Alex Dowsett Joins Katusha

Five-time British elite time trial champion and former world hour record holder Alex Dowsett (28) will join Team KATUSHA ALPECIN.

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News: Alex Dowsett Joins Katusha

Five-time British elite time trial champion and former world hour record holder Alex Dowsett (28) will join Team KATUSHA ALPECIN. Both parties signed an agreement for the 2018 season. In his last seven seasons, two with Team Sky and five with Team Movistar, Alex Dowsett obtained 15 victories including a stage win in the Giro d’Italia (2013) and the overall victory in the Bayern Rundfahrt (2015).

“It’s so exciting for me to join this team. I had five amazing seasons with Movistar but it is time for a change and I look forward to joining Team KATUSHA ALPECIN. Every team has a different approach and I feel I can learn a lot. The nice thing for me is that I can stay on the phenomenal Canyon bikes. They were such a huge sponsor for me in the last years, and in my opinion, it’s the best bike,” said Alex Dowsett.

“Alex is one of the best time trial riders in the professional peloton. We see nice opportunities with him to bring horse power to the team in the team time trials. Moreover, because of his TT skills, he is able to win stage races, as he has proved already in the past. Alex is still young but he has a lot of experience. I have a good feeling about him,” added KATUSHA ALPECIN team manager José Azevedo.
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Like many British riders Alex Dowsett was raised on the track but soon – and successfully -he changed direction to road cycling. The last ten seasons he was seven times national time trial champion (2x U23, 5x elite), European TT champion (2010) and he took the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games (2014). The highlight of his career, however, came in 2015 when he set a new world hour record of 52.937 kilometres, beating Rohan Dennis’ previous record by almost half a kilometre.

“I will continue to focus on my time trial but also all other races, especially stage races, including the Grand Tours, are important for me. I know that I will get my chances but I am ready to be a good domestique. In my period with Team Sky, I was one of the riders to protect Mark Cavendish and bring him to the last kilometer. I hope to do the same now with Marcel Kittel. I am good in positioning other riders to the sprint, but also to the climbs. Team KATUSHA ALPECIN will not regret this transfer. The team has evolved so much the last years. It’s an honor for me to be part of it. I will not disappoint them,” added Alex Dowsett.

Alex Dowsett suffers from haemophilia. He chose cycling above other sports because contact sports such as football were considered too risky. Dowsett runs a charity foundation to raise awareness of the rare disease.

“To get on the podium is always a special moment for me. It’s a message to our haemophilia community to always get the best out of our lives. It shows what anyone is able to achieve no matter what the circumstances, or in whichever team,” concluded Alex Dowsett.

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